The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW www.ifaw.org) wants Canada’s 2012 commercial seal hunt to be called off due to conservation concerns raised by a new scientific report showing that climate change is negatively impacting harp seals. Given the lack of demand for seal products, the Government of Canada should begin a process of permanently ending the commercial seal hunt, compensating sealers and providing support for transitioning them into other industries.

In late 2011, a series of workshops tackling specifically the rising demand in wildlife and wildlife products were held in succession in several Asian cities. From November 15-24, three separate workshops were convened in Beijing, Bangkok and Hong Kong.

Some wonder if this flurry of activities focusing on reducing demand means a balance shift in our work. Since I attended two of the workshops, a journalist asked me the reason behind this seemingly sudden rush to control demand.

I am delighted to share with you these observations from two remarkable children and their family from the US who I am accompanying on a visit to one of the International Fund for Animal Welafare’s projects in South Africa.

Carter (now age 10.5) and his sister Olivia (now age 9) started their own non-profit organization, One More Generation (OMG), in 2009 to help save endangered species and clean up our environment.

An animal welfare act that does not protect animals from harm is worse than useless because it gives the illusion that animals are cared for while allowing them to be shamelessly exploited. So is the case it seems with the Swiss Animal Protection legislation.

In their 2011 Hurricane Season Summary, FEMA recounts the storms that earned names and our respect this year!

FEMA reports that we experienced 19 tropical storms, of which seven became hurricanes, including three majors. The 19 tropical storms represent the third-highest total since record keeping began in 1851, and was well above the average of 11 storms per year.